OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
Geography - Meteorology Major (B.S.) |
Major code BS4238
College of Arts and Sciences
Geography Department
N378 Lindley Hall
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1140
www.ohio.edu/cas/geography
Edna Wangui, Chair
wangui@ohio.edu
Ryan Fogt, contact person
fogtr@ohio.edu
Program Overview
Geography bridges the natural and social sciences. Geographers focus on spatial patterns to study physical and cultural environments and how people interact with those environments. Geography is important to humanity because most of the world’s problems require deep understanding of the interdependence between human activities and the natural world. Geographic theories and methods provide students with fundamental analytical skills relevant to any occupation focused on solving social and environmental problems. Reflecting the diversity and breadth of geography, the department of Geography offers eight majors to help students specialize in a subfield of their choice.
The Geography - Meteorology major prepares students for public, military, and private sector positions in atmospheric science and for graduate studies in meteorology, climatology, or atmospheric science. The curriculum is based on guidelines from the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Service. While the major requires course work in math and physics, most of the courses are focused on atmospheric science and are offered by the Geography Department. All meteorology majors receive forecasting experience; broadcast experience is possible in association with WOUB.
The Geography Department at Ohio University is committed to excellence in both teaching and advising. Several of our faculty members have received teaching awards. We are known across campus for the highest quality of student advising. As a geography major, you will meet one-on-one with your faculty advisor every semester during advising week, and you are always welcome to talk with your advisor at any time throughout the semester whenever questions may arise. In addition to advising our students about their academic programs, we provide timely information about internships, nationally competitive awards, and other opportunities as they arise. Many of our students complete internships and several of our students have received nationally competitive awards.
For more information about our program, please view this video , visit our website , or reach out to the faculty contact person, whose information is listed above.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy
No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
The meteorology major prepares students for careers with the National Weather Service, the private sector (including jobs with agriculture and energy industries, insurance agencies, and others), and federal and non-federal careers where forecasting is the primary job responsibility. The program also adequately prepares students for advanced specialized training and education at the graduate level, including graduate education in broadcast meteorology.
Browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake , OHIO’s key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.
Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement
View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements .
Geography - Meteorology (B.S.)
The major requirements for the B.S. degree in Geography - Meteorology is a minimum of 75 hours, including at least 46 hours in geography and 29 hours of extradepartmental courses.
Geography Foundations
Complete the following geography foundation courses with at least the minimum grade indicated for each course. Ideally GEOG 2680 and 2710 should be taken before your junior year.
- GEOG 1100 - Physical Geography Credit Hours: 4
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(C or better grade required)
- GEOG 1200 - Human Geography Credit Hours: 3
-
(C or better grade required)
- GEOG 2680 - Introduction to GIS and Mapping Sciences Credit Hours: 4
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(C or better grade required)
- GEOG 2710 - Introduction to Statistics in Geography Credit Hours: 3
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(C- or better grade required)
- GEOG 4799 - Foundations for Capstone Research in Geography Credit Hours: 1
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(Offered only in Spring semester)
- GEOG 4800 - Capstone Experience in Geography Credit Hours: 3
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(Offered only in Fall semester)
Core Courses
Complete the following nine required courses:
- GEOG 3010 - Meteorology Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 3020 - Climatology Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 3031 - Meteorological Observations Credit Hours: 2
- GEOG 3040 - Practicum in Meteorology and Forecasting Credit Hours: 1
- GEOG 3050 - Physical Meteorology Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4060 - Synoptic Meteorology Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 4070 - Mesoscale Meteorology Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 4080 - Dynamic Meteorology I Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4090 - Dynamic Meteorology II Credit Hours: 3
Supporting Courses
Complete the following courses:
- ET 2100 - Engineering Programming Credit Hours: 4
- MATH 2301 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
- MATH 2302 - Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
- MATH 3400 - Elementary Differential Equations Credit Hours: 3
- PHYS 2051 - General Physics Credit Hours: 5
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or
- PHYS 2054 - General Physics 1 classical mechanics and thermodynamics Credit Hours: 3
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and
- PHYS 2055 - General Physics 1 laboratory course Credit Hours: 1
- PHYS 2052 - General Physics Credit Hours: 5
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or
- PHYS 2056 - General Physics 2 electricity and magnetism Credit Hours: 3
-
and
- PHYS 2057 - General Physics 2 laboratory course Credit Hours: 1
Complete one of the following courses:
- CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
- CHEM 1500 - Concepts in Chemistry Credit Hours: 4
- CHEM 1510 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4